Table 1.

Comparison of signal production and foraging activity in three pairs of genetically diverse and genetically uniform colonies, over 3 days of observation per pair. (Total number of signals produced per day were determined by counting signals observed on the dance floor of hives during the first minute of every 5-min interval of observation (waggle dances were counted from 07.00 to 19.00; shaking signals were counted from 07.00 to 08.00). Relative foraging rates were determined from 12.00 to 12.30. Means, s.e. and s.d. were calculated using 3-day colony means; percentage of increase=((genetically diverse−genetically uniform)/genetically uniform)×100%.)

pair	day	total no. of waggle dances			total no. of shaking signals			relative foraging rates (mean no. workers exiting min−1)
		genetically uniform	genetically diverse	increase (%)	genetically uniform	genetically diverse	increase (%)	genetically uniform	genetically diverse	increase (%)
1	28 Jun	395	329	−17	322	781	143	10.0	10.6	6
	29 Jun	267	296	11	205	889	337	—	—	—
	30 Jun	153	206	35	220	559	154	9.8	31.5	221
2	13 Jul	90	196	118	208	400	92	8.5	13.9	64
	14 Jul	172	334	94	284	284	0	7.3	15.4	111
	15 Jul	155	262	69	111	171	54	6.5	13.7	111
3	9 Aug	113	227	101	143	205	43	3.9	9.1	133
	10 Aug	182	270	48	351	283	−19	7.7	11.5	49
	11 Aug	107	108	1	241	403	67	4.7	6.7	43
	mean±s.e. (s.d.)	181.6±45.1 (78.1)	247.6±23.2 (40.3)		231.7±15.4 (26.6)	441.7±150.7 (261.0)		7.9±1.3 (2.2)	14.8±3.5 (5.9)